The South West’s crime czar has issued a stark warning of fewer front-line officers if the Government continues to under-fund the force.

Alison Hernandez says eight years of static funding for policing in Devon and Cornwall, from £286 million in 2010-11 to £285m this year, have meant the force having to make cuts of £54million since 2011 when inflation, pay increases and increased demand are considered.

Full-time officers and staff have been reduced by 1,000 during that time.

“It’s up to the Government to make sure that the thin blue line does not get any thinner in Devon and Cornwall,” she said.

In her column in the Western Morning News, Alison Hernandez writes:

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Last week, the Home Secretary spoke to police and crime commissioners and chief constables at their annual summit. She spoke about many issues – including funding and what she expects from those who lead policing in this country.

She told PCCs how they need to tell local communities and victims of our plans to make them safer and I am more than confident that my Police and Crime Plan couldn’t be stronger in its commitment to do that.

Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez

How we ensure a safe, resilient and connected community in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is my main focus and I am willing to explore all opportunities to achieve this – and to improve already high levels of public confidence in the force.

The chief constable and I met Policing Minister Nick Hurd last week to outline that we are a force with few neighbours and surrounded by water – we can’t easily pull in resources from adjoining forces to help when issues develop.

So we presented solutions; going cap in hand to the Government hasn’t been our first thought. Additional funding would allow us to invest more in front-line services but we must make sure we use our existing resources efficiently. We recognise our responsibility to lead our way out of these challenging times – that’s why we have a strategic alliance with Dorset and are now investigating the value of a full merger. No other force has worked so closely with the Home Office to try and get the funding formula for the police grant right – we have provided ministers with significant evidence to explain the burden of demand on forces like ours.

Instead of asking for additional funds from the Government Devon and Cornwall Police and Dorset Police have responded by working more closely together – sharing back-office and front-line specialist services to release savings and improve the quality of service to the public.

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The strategic alliance began in 2014 and has already improved delivery, resilience and flexibility, saved money and increased efficiency. A full merger would enhance these benefits and deliver more but we need to explore this properly and seek a wide range of views.

We continue to look at every opportunity to improve our efficiency but further funding is needed as well.

Funding for policing in Devon and Cornwall has remained static for eight years: £286m in 2010-11 and £285m this year. We have reduced full-time officers and staff by 1,000 during that time and when you consider all inflationary increases, including pay awards and those caused by increased demand, this equates to savings of £54m since 2011.

Government have been repeatedly warned by officers that austerity is leaving the thin blue line to become a dotted blue line

This makes it harder to fund the changes we must make to respond to increased demand, new and emerging crime types and any unexpected events. This why we hold reserves of £60m and why we expect that figure to reduce to £17m within four years. An example of spending from reserves is the much-needed new custody unit to replace that in Heavitree Road, Exeter.

For a number of years Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies has been aware that this facility is inadequate and work is now under way to provide a replacement at Middlemoor.

The sale of another piece of land at headquarters will help provide funds for that new build, which is due to open in 2020 – but this will need to be topped-up from reserves. We also have to now account for the recently announced, and well-deserved, pay award. The Government has declared there is no additional central funding for that. Our resources remain very tight. Before this announcement Devon and Cornwall was already budgeting for an annual £10m reduction by 2020-21.

If no further funding is provided in the autumn statement I will face some difficult choices in the budget round for 2018-19.

Our Force receives £106 per head of population, £4 below the national average which equates to a difference of £7m a year and could increase our front-line strength by 150.

The chief constable and I have done our bit by making savings and finding ways to work more efficiently. As a community we are doing our bit by paying a little more each year through our council tax, now it’s up to the Government to make sure that the thin blue line does not get any thinner in Devon and Cornwall. We need some certainty about future funding. We cannot get away from the fact that Devon and Cornwall Police does not get a fair share of the budget.

We know we have to be realistic ,but if we had increased access to resources – just to the national average – the way we police could help communities to be better connected and safer.

It is vital that future police funding is not just swallowed up by the metropolitan police areas and by joining forces with Dorset we create a stronger voice in the corridors of power, where we can be champions for local policing and communities.

Alison Hernandez is the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall.

Devon and Cornwall Police Force’s funding is equivalent to £106 per head of population, £4 below the national average.